We were lucky to catch up with Inessa Burnell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Inessa, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Purpose doesn’t arrive like an illuminated billboard the moment you turn eighteen. It’s not a single, fixed idea either. It grows like a whisper that slowly crescendos until you can hear it clearly and finally put a name to it.
Throughout my life, purpose has shifted: making my parents proud, protecting the integrity of food, creating meaningful art, and managing the visual arts in my local community gallery. Each chapter brought me closer to understanding what truly fulfills me.
Art has always been my companion. As an only child, I entertained myself with imagination and art supplies. In grade school, I struggled with communicating. Art helped me translate feelings into pictures, which eventually became words. That was my first glimpse of purpose: using creativity to communicate.
As I grew older, I faced the classic question: What do you want to be when you grow up? My parents decided I was going to college, but choosing a major felt overwhelming. I wanted to make them proud, but I didn’t know how.
Imposter syndrome crept in. I didn’t feel good enough to be a “real” artist, smart enough to be an engineer, or wise enough to be a manager. I couldn’t see myself as anything at all.
Eventually, I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Food Science, a suggestion from my dad after I admitted I needed guidance. I worked in the industry for about a year before moving across the country to reunite with family with the intent to continue in food science. Then 2020 happened.
With everything locked down and no job prospects, I turned to the one thing that had always grounded me: art. I dusted off my supplies and embraced a second calling. My first piece as an “actual” artist was Embrace Purpose, showing an angel reaching toward the light, wings partially unfurled, on the cusp of flight. It reflected my own uncertainty and hope.
I began selling prints and joined a new social media platform to gain traction. To my surprise, freelance inquiries started appearing: game developers and authors wanted illustrations for their projects. That moment was transformative. Someone liked my art enough to want it custom-made? I was good enough?
I dove into commissions and licensing and discovered a new joy in collaboration. Working with clients reminded me of how I learned to communicate as a child, pictures to words. Now, it was reversed: words to pictures. It was a challenge that I loved. I had found my third purpose: visual storytelling through illustration.
Less than a year into my illustration career, I discovered a local art gallery. Still shy and insecure, I wasn’t sure they’d accept a digital artist – no paints, no “originals.” But they welcomed me with open arms and my artwork was well received by their clientele.
Here’s something I hadn’t realized until then: I’m a perfectionist. I crave order. When I see a flawed system, I want to fix it. So when I noticed areas for improvement at the gallery, I couldn’t help myself. I spent nights drafting forms and proposals to streamline their processes.
Soon, I was onboarded as a volunteer graphic designer for marketing. I assisted with posters, flyers, and social media campaigns. From there, I gradually took on more responsibilities – event planning, staffing, art intake, administration – and eventually stepped into the role of Gallery Director.
This fourth purpose – managing the gallery and promoting visual arts in the community – wasn’t something I saw coming. But looking back, I realize each step was a breadcrumb leading me here.
Purpose isn’t a destination. It’s a journey of listening, evolving, and embracing what lights you up. That whisper I heard as a child has become a steady voice – one that guides me as I continue to grow.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I manage two creative ventures: the Kingman Center for the Arts (KCA) Gallery & Gift Shop, and my freelance illustration business, InessaBurnellArt.
At KCA – a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the arts in Kingman, Az and the surrounding areas – I serve as Gallery Director. We’re a 99.9% volunteer-run organization with three departments: Beale Street Theater, Education & Outreach, and the Gallery & Gift Shop, the last of which I oversee.
Because we’re volunteer-based, I wear many hats: tracking metrics, managing volunteers, planning events, and handling advertising. My favorite part? The creative side, graphic design and social media content, feel more like play than work. A close second is the constant learning. There’s always something new to learn, and the perfectionist in me thrives on that growth. Not just financial growth, though that matters, but the kind you see in rising community enthusiasm, emerging artists, and students who return each year with stronger work. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.
We recently hosted our biggest event of the year: the Annual 6×6 Fundraiser. Local artists and community members donate artwork in a 6×6 inch format, which we display and sell in the gallery. Proceeds support the KCA Gallery and special exhibitions like A Little Inspiration, where students ages 7–17 submit artwork and one of our professional local artists chooses one or more that inspires them to create a companion piece. Both works are displayed side by side, and the artist-student pairs meet at the reception to spark conversation and mentorship. After its success in 2025, we’ve made it a permanent part of our show lineup. The next A Little Inspiration exhibition runs January 13–February 14, 2026.
On the other side of my creative life, I run InessaBurnellArt, where I illustrate for authors and game developers. My specialty is fantasy, though I’ve worked in sci-fi and modern genres as well. You can explore my client portfolio at inessaburnellart.com/client-projects to see the stories and games I’ve helped bring to life.
I have a few exciting projects in the pipeline and those will be revealed soon! In the meantime, I’m honored to be featured in a mini-show at the KCA Gallery (an invitation I received before becoming Gallery Director). The show runs through November 8th and includes six Limited Edition Giclée Prints with hand-painted metallic detailing, plus six traditional paintings in gouache, watercolor, and acrylic. These pieces aren’t available online, so if you’re in the Kingman, AZ area, I’d love for you to stop by and see them in person. Who knows, I might even be at the gallery the day you stop by!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
If I had to choose three qualities that shaped my journey the most, they would be initiative, adaptability, and creative communication.
Initiative was the spark that turned my ideas into action. Whether it was improving gallery systems or launching my freelance illustration business, I didn’t wait for permission. I started where I was, with what I had. For those early in their journey: don’t underestimate small steps. If you see a gap, fill it. If you have an idea, sketch it out. Initiative builds momentum.
Adaptability helped me pivot when life didn’t go as planned. I went from food science to art during a global shutdown, and that shift taught me that purpose doesn’t always follow a straight line. My advice? Stay open. Try things that scare you a little. Growth often hides in the places you least expect.
Creative communication – the ability to translate ideas between words and visuals – has been essential in both my illustration work and nonprofit leadership. It’s how I connect with clients, volunteers, and the community. To build this skill, I recommend practicing expressing yourself in different formats. Write, draw, speak, design. The more fluently you communicate, the more clearly your ideas will resonate. Personally, I make it a weekly exercise to write engaging social media posts, professional emails, and short stories.
Above all, be kind to yourself. Your journey is uniquely yours, so try new things and explore career paths. Every challenge you face is shaping the artist, leader, or creator you’re becoming. In the wise words of my college advisor: “It’s never too late”. Those words gave me the courage every time I redirected my career path and I hope they will for you, too.
If you’re just starting out, trust that your path will unfold. Keep showing up, and keep creating.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Absolutely! I’m always open to collaboration, especially with folks who are passionate about storytelling, visual arts, and community engagement. On the illustration side, I love working with authors, game developers, and creatives who are building immersive worlds and want art that brings their vision to life. On the nonprofit side, I welcome artists, educators, and volunteers who want to support youth programs, exhibitions, or help grow the arts in Kingman, AZ.
If you’re interested in collaborating on illustration projects, you can reach me through my website at inessaburnellart.com. For nonprofit-related inquiries, including gallery exhibitions or volunteer opportunities, feel free to contact me at [email protected] . I’d love to hear what you’re working on and explore how we can create something meaningful together.
Contact Info:
- Website: inessaburnellart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inessaburnellart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingmanarthub
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inessaburnell/
- Twitter: https://x.com/Inessab_art
- Other: https://kingmanarts.org/about
